Focusing on prevention and early identification of risk factors associated with farming populations, the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) develops timely, appropriate, effective and popular interventions, in partnership with industry, rural organisations and academia.
It has been more than 12 years since the NCFH commenced and over 10 years since the launch of the organisation’s first website, which has played a critical part in communicating with rural and regional communities and provided up to date information to over 400,000 users. However, recent feedback highlighted a number of difficulties that users had been experiencing.
At the beginning of this year, a consumer website redevelopment group was formed to guide the design and development of a new website. Their vision was to provide reliable services and quality information at scale through a modern website that was easy to use. The NCFH has also been working internationally so an ability to provide information in other languages was also important along with a text to speech feature. The website is fully HONCODE accredited, a certification created for websites offering health information, and engages with clinical, educational, research and farming professionals. Information on the website aligns with key Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2019–2023 priorities including reducing injury, increasing healthy eating, improving mental wellbeing.
Over the past few months, despite coronavirus (COVID-19), the NCFH has achieved a complete overhaul to make the website visually appealing, easier to navigate, more user-friendly and mobile-compatible. It is packed with new features, the latest resources and research to better communicate information that can help to improve farmers’ health, wellbeing and safety.
The NCFH provides national leadership to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farm men and women, farm workers, their families and communities across Australia. Initiatives like #SnapshotRuralVic focus the spotlight on rural people, so they can share the highs and lows of rural life and hopefully feel a little less isolated and more connected to their communities. We invite you to see for yourself! CLICK HERE.